Senate Bill No. 422, introduced by Senator Miller, amends existing law regarding penalties for individuals convicted of a fourth offense of operating while impaired. The bill retains the current penalties, which include a fine of $5,000 and imprisonment for a term ranging from two years to 30 years, with a mandatory two years served without the possibility of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence unless specific circumstances apply. The new provision allows for unsupervised probation to be imposed after the offender completes their incarceration, home incarceration, treatment program, or probation, with the unsupervised probation lasting until the original sentence is completed or for 20 years from the date of sentencing, whichever is longer.

Additionally, the bill includes a provision that allows the court, upon the motion of the prosecuting district attorney, to order the seizure and impoundment of the vehicle operated by the offender at the time of the offense, which will then be sold at auction. This legislation is set to take effect on August 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
SB422 Original: 14:4(D)